USA "Between Three Cultures, Chicago" Jay Dunn

22 images Created 30 May 2009

USA, Chicago, May 28, 2009.

Community within a community, Zapotec speaking Mexican-Americans and immigrants maintain their connection to San Pablo Guila in their native Oaxaca through religion, cultural traditions and food. A significant group lives in the Illinois suburb of West Chicago.

At one time, the Zapotec kingdom was the most powerful and populous in Mesoamerica, as evidenced by the monumental architecture of Monte Alban, their ancient capital, and the widespread dialects of the Zapotec language. That their modern-day descendants have maintained such a strong connection to their culture is surely due to both a strong sense of family and a pervasive faith in roots. Photographs commissioned by HOY newspaper for a front-page feature story.